Culinary Specialties CooksShopHere- Oolong Tea: Hairy Crab

Black

Oolong

Hairy Crab Traditionally-Grown
Se Zhong Mao Xie

Min-Nan Region Fujian Province, China
40-50% Oxidation
Ball-rolled leaf style with few stems
Sweet, stone-fruit flavor
Clean, floral aroma
Golden-green liquor

1/4 lb	1/2 lb	lb
15.00 Buy	30.00 Buy	60.00 Buy

Hairy Crab Oolong is grown on the coastal outcroppings of Fujian Province’s prime tea-producing region. It is named in honor of the edible crabs that populate the waters near its habitat. Related to the Blue crab of the Chesapeake Bay, the Hairy crab sheds its shell in autumn, and is a gustatory delight for the Chinese who live along the eastern coast. There is even a festival during the crab harvest, and Hairy Crab Oolong tea plays a prominent role in the celebration.

Hairy Crab Oolong is one of the few teas that benefits from the long coastal growing season that stretches into the cooler weather of autumn. It is at this time that the size of the leaf is perfect for forming the unique shape of the finished tea. As the tea unfurls during steeping, it replicates the image of the crab’s leg when swimming.

First cousin to the Imperial Gold Oolong, Hairy Crab Oolong has more depth of flavor but not quite the concentration of Tiequanyin.

Steep 2-5 infusions at 30-90 seconds each
or 1-3 infusions at 2-3 minutes each.
Water temperature should be 180˚ - 190˚ F